Divider blade mechanism for materials separating machines



Oct. 28, 1952 R. H. JOHNSON DIVIDER BLADE MECHANISM FOR MATERIALS SEPARATING MACHINES Filed May 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet -1 Oct. 28, 1952 R. H. JoHNSoN DIVIDER BLADE MECHANISM FOR MATERIALS SEPARATING NLMJI'IIIESl Filed May 18, 1946 4 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' @2L/yagmal zfs @frag Oct. 28, 1952 R. H. JOHNSON 2,615,571

DIVIDER BLADE MECHANISM FOR MATERIALS SEPARATING MACHINS Filed May 18, 1946 4 SheetS--shet 3 als arzegy Oct. 28, 1952 R. H. JoHNsoN 2,615,571

A DIVIDER BLADE MECHANISM FOR MATERIALS SEPARATING vMACHINES Filed May 18, 194e 4 sheets-snaai 4 F597 4 729.6 m1 A IIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIHIIHIHIII IIIIIIIHIHIL' INVEN TOR.

Patented ct. 28, 1952 UN I TED 'S PAT EN T OF F 4ICSI?.

g a' DIVIDER BLADE MEonANIsM Fon MATE- J mais vsnrnnn'rlNG vMinonimrs Ralphlll Johnson, AVARochester, N. Y., assignor.. by

imesne assignments, to The Quaker Oats Company, Chicago, :Il-l.,- a corporationV of New Jersey Application May is, 1946,'seria1 516.6705701 12 claims.- (cl. 209-1301) 'This :invention relates to mechanism com-priis-v ing .an adjustable divider blade `for attachment tomachines for the Ydry sepa-'ratingand classi-tying of finelyY divided -materials, such, forexample, as ithe known mechanical `or electrostatic separating machines. In the operation of such separating machines, itis i-mportan-tthat the'divider blade be accurately located -insuch position in the stream of falling particles ras to cleanly effect the desired separation,nwith the particles of different characteristics falling on opposite sides of the blade. ln many `cases,'particularly where 'the machine and'blade -are lof substantial length, say, twelve feet long, or 'Whenthe-machine .is enclosed `in la dust Yretaining casing, -it is often diicult `to see 'and obtain access'tosuch divider bars and to eiect and'ma-intain such adjustments, equally and accurately at bothends vof the blade;

AOne object of .the invention, therefor-e, isto provide an improved divider bladeemechanism having eilicient means for adjusting the posi-tion of pthe blade, accurately and uniiormlygat -both of its ends, relatively 'to Athe stream of materials to be separated, to suit particular operating -condtons. v

Another object is'toprovi-de such amechanism capable ofbeing readily vand lconveniently operated from .the outside ofthe machine flrameor casing in which .it-may be enclosed'. f y

A`Ifurther object' is to `providea mechanism having the above .advantages ina form of constructionadapted; to be easily vattachedto the frame of a separating machine.

A still further object'jis `'the provision or a mechanism of the 'above' character in a simple, rugged, and reliable form ofconstruction capable of being `economically manufactured Vand -installed." y l 'To these and other ends theA invention resides in certain mprovements'an-d Ycombinati'ons, ofA

parts, all as will `be hereinafter more vfully described, the novel rfeatures 'being -pointedout in the claims at the endofthe specification.

In the drawings:

.Figi is a side elevation .of portions vof 'an electrostatic separating .machine having attached thereto a divider Vblade .mechanism embodying the present invention; l

Fig. v2 is a top plan viewof the same,=partlyin section and .partly broken away; K y j Fig. 3 is an .enlarged side elevation as -seenfrom the left in AFig. 1,*tvith parts of the machine -frame broken away; Y i

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective vieWoia rack bar employed inthe mechanism;

Fig-5 is a sectionalelevationonfthe line :5e-.5 in-Fig. 3:y

Fig. 6 is a sectional-plan view substantially the line 6--6 in Fig. l5;

Fig. '7 lis an Lenlargedsectional velevation onvthe line 1 1 in Fig. S6;

Fig. 8 is -an enlarged elevation, :part-lyin :section, on vthe line-8`8 in Fig. '6, and

Fig. V9 is an `enlargedsectional .elevation .on .the

line 9--9 inFig. 5.

The preferred embodiment .of the invention. herein disclosed -by :Way o'f .illustration, is .adapted for application lt'o van `electrostatic.separatingniachine comprising `spaced end rframes or .standards, indicated generallyat |.0 .and r|i2 .('Figs.,l-3.`r)., each -built -up of v'hollow .metalsections 121,5 Yflanged as lat Hi, and. bolted together as :at 11|;5.,4in1super posed relation. vJo'urnaled at their `opposite :ends in these frame sections are the shafts, |16 carrying the pairs of .spacedlcylindrical .fe'lecftrodes -usually including ya larger rotary conveying elec trodeU-'l-lfandeJ smaller electrode .i8 spaced therefrom,the iinely divided materials Lto be separated being discharged irom hopper means -(not shown) on the rotary conveying .electrode fill. Such materials are delivered v;by ithe v`electrode zlfl in a free falling stream .through 'electro` static field produced-between the .electrodesjwith the resul-t that the particles va-re repelled izor'fdepressed, according toltheir characteristics,A and thus separated into :spaced .planes iorcdivision into different classes by 'the divider blade l. OneV of the separated classes :of particles may then Ibe conveyed to fthe next lowerpair ofaelec'- trodes 20 fork further or .diierent treatment, "toA progressively-effect the desired separation, as wellk understood in the .'art.

Where such .mechanisms are `adjusta'bly sup'- ported, as heretofore, by means located within the frame or casing .of the machine, they have `been ydiicult to reach, Yoften requiring thefma- Anipulation of the parts .in dangerous proximity tto highly charged electrical conductors, requiring discontinuance .of the operation of the machine during such adjustments. Moreoyenxithaslbeen found difficult andv tedious, particularly fin the case ofdivider bars of substantial length, to accurately adjust the.bar',-one end at a time, while maintaining Ait in parallelism with vthe :plane :of the materials to be separated.

I lhave found that this diiculty may be advantageously overcome by the provision "of an improved divider blade mechanism adjustably lmounted in a. simple way on the outsideuof the end standards l0 and i2 of 'the separating machine. For .this purpose I'preferably .provide rack 3 bars 2| of the character shown in Fig. 4, for bolting to the frame standards, as shown in the several gures of the drawings. Each rack is recessed at the rear of the side lying against the standard, as at 22, to form with the standard Wall a guide channel in which is received a gib 23 (Figs. 6 and 8) bolted to the outer side of each of a pair of gear boxes 24 and 25, one adjacent each of said frame standards. By means of such gibs, the gear boxes are retained and guided onY the frame for limited vertical adjustment.

Each gear box has each of opposite walls thereof formed with bearings 26 and 21 (Fig. 5) in which are journaled the respective ends of a shaft 28 extending between the boxes. Fixed on each end of the shaft within each box-is a pinion 29 meshing with the corresponding rack 2l. Fixed on one end of shaft 28 in box 24 is a worm wheel 30 (Figs. 5 and 6) meshing with a worm 3l fixed on a short shaft 32 journaled in bearings in opposite Walls of the box and projecting forwardly through the front wall as at 33 and formed for the reception of a crank 34, Fig. 2. It will be apparentthat by means of such gearing, ro-

tation of shaft 32 serves to rotate shaft 28 and its pinions meshing with the racks on the frame,

so as to simultaneously elevate'or lower both gear boxes 24 and 25, equally, for the purpose of raising or lowering the divider blade carried by the boxes, as hereafter described.

Another shaft 35, Figs. 5 and 9, is journaled at its ends in bearings in opposite side walls of the gear boxes 24 and 25, this shaft having its end at the right hand side of the mechanism projecting outside the gear box as at 35 and formed for the reception of ahand crank 31, Fig. l, for rotating the shaft. Fixed on shaft 35 in each of the'gear boxes is a spiral gear 38 meshing with a similar gear 39 iixed on a spindle 40 journaled in bearings in the front and rear walls of each box. Each spindle 4I is extended rearwardly beyond its box and provided with a screw thread as at 4I. A pair of spaced heads 42 are each provided with a threaded opening 43 in which the corresponding threaded spindle 4l isL received, these heads 42 being connected by and forming the support for the divider blade I9. For this purpose the divider blade is clamped between the ilanged edges 44 of a sleeve 45nxed by bolts 46 on solid end trunnions 41. Trunnions 41 are clamped in split bearings in the upper ends of the heads 42 which are tightened by means of bolts 48, Fig. 3, so as to securely hold the divider blade in adjusted position on the heads.

',The heads 42 are also connected by a bar 49, Fig. 3, on which a baiiie plate 50 is pivotally mounted by means of a semi-circular ange 5l at its upper end hooked over the bar. Baffie plate 50 rides at its lower end, during adjustments of the divider bar, on a support 52 on the machine frame. The baffle is thus located below the divider blade in position to intercept particles falling` on the rear side thereof and to discharge such particles to a chute 53 for suitable disposition. r

It will be noted vthat each of the equalizer shafts 28'and 35 has an intermediate tubular section as at 54 (Fig.`5) adjustably coupled with the opposite ends of each shaft by means of sleeve 55. Each sleeve is adjustably fixed to the intermediate tube vand adjacent shaft end by means of set-screws 56. By this means, and by the vuse of the Worm and spiral types of gearing employed, substantially all backlash and lost motion is eliminated so as to insure equal and precise adjustment of the ends of the divider bar.

It is apparent from the above described construction that the rotation of shaft 33, by means of the hand crank 34, serves to rotate shaft 28 and its pinions 29 meshing with the stationary racks on the frame, thus raising or lowering the gear box housings 24 and 25 so as to raise or lower both ends of the divider blade with equalized precision. Similarly, rotation of shaft 35, by means of crank 31, serves to rotate each of the threaded spindles 49, in one direction or the other, and thus adjust the heads 42 and the divider blade toward or from the conveying electrode l1, with equalized precision, so as to'maintain `the blade parallel with the plane of separation of the materials. Such vertical and horizontal adjustments are thus separately accomplished, each by a single hand crank conveniently located on the outside of the machine. The mechanism affords a wide range of adjustment of the blade, as indicated by the full and `dotted line positions shown in Fig. 3, and the 4blade vis thus quickly, accurately, and conveniently brought to the most advantageous position for any particular operating condition. At `thesanrie time, baffle plate 50 is self adjusting topos'ition to receive one of the classes of particles separated by the blade and to discharge it separatelylfrom the other class of materials which is conveyed by suitable baiile means 51 to the next lower pair ofelectrodes. v It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects and While it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood `that such disclosure is 'intended in an illustrative,A rather than in a limiting sense, as it 'is contemplated that various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electrostatic machine forV separating materials having different electrostatic susceptibilities comprising a frame having an elongated electrode, an elongated divider blade in spaced parallel relation to said electrode, a housing associated with each end of saidv blade, spindles rotatably mounted iny said housings` and having threaded connections with theends of said blade, respectively, for supporting andadjusting the same in one direction relative to said electrode, adjusting means. in -said housings having connections .with said frame for supporting and adjusting said housings in another 'direction relative to said electrode, equalizing means having actuatingconnections with saidspindlest'o effect simultaneous equal rotation thereof,e qualizing means having actuating connections lwith said housing adjusting means to effectsimul.- taneous equal actuation thereof, and" means for operating said adjusting means forv effecting equalized adjustment of -the ends 'of said'j blade in each of said directions. f

2. An electrostatic machine for` lseparating materials having different electrostatic susceptibilities comprising a frame' having an elongated electrode, an elongated dividerv blade in spaced parallel relation to .said Velectrode, a housing associated with .each endof said'blade, adjusting means in said housingslhaving 'connections with the Aends off said blade, vrespectively, for supporting andv adjusting the same .in one direction relative to said electrodejrack and pinion means connecting said frame and'housings-for adjusting said housings in another 'direction' relative to said electrode, 'equalizing means vlflfaving"actuating connections With said materials "having 'different electrostatic susceptibilities comprising a frame having an'elon- 'gated electrode, an'elongated divider .blade in spaced parallel relation .to vsaid electrode, La Ahousingassociated with eachend of saidl blade,-

sp'indles'rotatably mounted in said housings and having threaded connections with the Aends of said blade, respectively, for supporting andadjusting the same in one direction relative to said electrode, rack and pinion means connecting saidhousings with said frame for adjusting said housingsjin another direction relative to said electrode', a shafthaving actuating connections With"said spindles for effecting simultaneous" equal .rotation thereof, a shaft connected with the pinions of said rack and pinion means for effecting simultaneous equal rotation thereof, and means for rotating said shafts for effecting equalized adjustment of the ends of said blade in. each of lsaid directions. v v

4. An electrostatic machine for separating materialshaving different electrostatic susceptibilities comprising a frame having an elongated `electrode, an elongated divider blade in spaced parallelrelation to said'electrode, a gear box associated with each end of said blade, ad-

v meshing with said racks; respectively, for ad- `justing means in said boxes having connections Withthe' ends of said blade, respectively, for supportingand 'adjusting the same in one direction relative to'saidelectrode, gearing in said b'oXes connected 4vWith said frame for sup-porting and adjusting said boxes in another direction relative to said electrode, a-shaft having gearing connections in said boxesvvith-said blade adjusting means for effecting simultaneous equal actuation thereof, a s hafthaving its ends connected with said gearing for effecting simulparallel relation to said electrode, a housing associated with each end of said blade, adjusting means in said housings having connections with the ends of said blade, respectively, for supporting and adjusting the same in one direction relative to said electrode, racks on said frame, pinions in said housings meshing With said racks, a shaft having actuating connections With said blade adjusting means for effecting simultaneous equal actuation thereof, a shaft connected with said pinions for effecting simultaneous equal rotation thereof, means for rotating each of said shafts for effecting equalized adjustment of the ends of said blade simultaneously in each of said directions, and guide means on said racks and housings for retaining and guiding said housings on said frame during said adjustment thereof.

6, An electrostatic machine for separating materials having different electrostatic `susoeptibii-' ities comprising `a frame having-an elongated electrode, an elongated divider blade in #spaced parallelv relation to v,said electrode, fa --housing associated With each end of said-blade',`spindles rotatably mounted in Vsaid housings and havingl threaded connectionswith the ends of-said blade, respectively, for supporting and -adjusting Athe same in one direction relative to said-electro`de, racks on saidI frame, -pinions in saidhousings justing said housings jin vanother direction gibs on said housings engaging said-racks to retain and guide said housings ori-said frameja shaft provided atits ends with actuating connections With k said spindles for effecting simultaneous equal rotation thereof,v a shaft connected with said pinions for eifecting simultaneous Jequal rotation thereof, and means'jfor rotating said shafts'for effecting equalized adjustmentof the ends `of said-blade simultaneously in each of said directions. v

7. An electrostatic machine for separating -materials having different electrostatic susceptibil- `ities comprising a frame having an: elongated4 electrode, Van elongateddividerblade relative to said electrode, a gearbox associated with' each end of said bla-de, spindles rotatably mounted in said boxes and having threaded Vconnections Withthe ends of said'blade, respectively, @for supporting and adjusting Ythe-same in onev -direction relative to said electrode, racks -onqsaid framepinions meshing with'said'r/acks, respectively,' a 'shaft yhaving gearing" connections-'at its ends with said spindlesfor effecting simultaneous equal rotation thereoa shaftconnected at its'e'nds with said pinions for effectingVV si-l niultaneousv equal rotation thereof and `means for Yrotating said shafts Afor veffectingequalized adjustment of the ends vof said blade--simul taneously in each'ofA saidv directions. i' I 8. An electrostatic machine for separatingma-- terials having different electrostatic'susceptibilities comprising a frameyhaving an elongated electrode, an elongated divider blade, in'spaced parallel relationto saidy electrode, a Vgearbcx associated `with each end*- ofl said blade, spindles Irotatably mounted in saidiboxes andi Lhavi-ng threaded connections With the endsA of said blade,

respectively, for supporting fand adjusting the same in one direction relative to said electrode, racks on said frame, pinions 'meshing` with said racks, respectively, gibs on said boxes and engaging said racks for retaining and guiding said boxes on said frame, a shaft having gearing connections at its ends with said spindles for eifecting simultaneous equal rotation thereof, a shaft connected at lits ends with said pinions for effecting simultaneous requal rotation thereof,

and means for rotating said shafts separately to effect`sirnultaneous equalized adjustment of the ends of said blade in either of said directions.

, 9. An electrostatic machine for separating materials having different electrostatic susceptibilities comprising a frame. having an elongated electrode, an elongated divider blade in spaced parallel relation to said electrode, a housing` associated with each end of said blade, adjusting means in said housings having connections with the ends of said blade, respectively, for supporting and adjusting the same in one direction relative to said electrode, adjusting means in said housings having connections with said frame for supporting and adjusting said housings in another direction relative to said electrode, a baiiie plate underlying said blade and pivotally connected thereto for conveying materials separated by said blade, actuating and equalizing means connecting each adjusting means of one housing with the corresponding adjusting means of the other housing to effect simultaneous equal actuation thereof, and means for operating said adjustingmeans for effecting simultaneous equalized adjustment of the ends of said blade in each of said directions.

10. An electrostatic machine for separating materials having different electrostatic susceptibilties comprising a frame having anelongated electrode, an elongated divider blade in spaced parallel relation to said electrode provided at its ends with supporting heads, a gear box associated with each end of said blade, spindles each having one end rotatably mounted in one of said boxes and the other end threadedly connected with one of said heads, for supporting and adjusting the same in one direction relative to said electrode, rack and pinion means connecting said boxes with said frame for adjusting said boxes in another direction relative to said electrode, a rod connecting said heads below said blade, a baille pivotally supported on said rod below said blade for conveying materials separated by said blade, a shaft having gearing connections at its ends and said spindles to effect simultaneous equal rotation thereof, a shaft connected with the pinions of said rack and pinion means for effecting simultaneous equal rotation thereof, and means for rotating said shafts for effecting simultaneous `equalized adjustment of the ends of said blade in each of said directions,

11. An electrostatic machine for separating materials having different electrostatic ysusceptibilities, comprising a frame having an elongated electrode, an elongated divider blade in spaced parallel relation to saidelectrode, a housing associated with each'end of said blade, adjustmeans in another direction relative to said elec trode, a common actuating element connected with the blade adjusting means of said housings,

a common actuating element connected with said housing adjusting means, and means for operating said elements to effect simultaneous equalized adjustment of the ends of said blade in each of said directions.

12. An electrostatic machine for separating materials having different electrostatic susceptibilities, comprising a frame having an elongated electrode, an elongated divider blade in spaced parallel relation to said electrode, a housing associated with each end of said blade, adjusting means in said housings having connections with the ends of said blade, respectively, for supporting and adjusting the same in one direction relative t0 said electrode, adjusting means in said housings having connections with said frame for supporting and adjusting said housings and the nrst mentioned adjusting means in another direction relative to said electrode, a shaft having actuating connections with the blade adjusting means of said housings, a shaft having actuating connections with said housing adjusting means, and means for rotating said shafts to effect simultaneous equalized adjustment of the ends of said blade in each of said directions.

RALPH H. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

